BREAKING NEWS

Orlando man faces charges in connection with dozens of graffiti cases

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - An Orange County man is facing felony charges after police said he was involved in more than 65 acts of graffiti vandalism.

Investigators with Orlando police told Channel 9 they caught David Rodriguez-Cruz in the act of spray painting a wall at a business owned by Andy Warden.

"It was pretty much the whole wall, yeah," Warden said.

Warden said his small business has been hit with graffiti several times in the past 13 years, and at least one time it was allegedly done by Rodriguez-Cruz. The 23-year-old was initially arrested in April, but only charged with a misdemeanor.

"It looked like a bunch of bumblebees and yellow. At least he used some bright colors this time," Warden said.

Since Rodriguez-Cruz's arrest, investigators said they were able to connect him to dozens of other cases of vandalism because he used the same moniker. According to police, they have a program that keeps track of specific graffiti tags and it assisted them in this case.

Rodriguez-Cruz is now facing felony criminal mischief charges with damage totaling more than $23,000.

When Eyewitness News went to Rodriguez-Cruz's home to get his side of the story, his father defended his alleged graffiti.

"You don't think that's a crime?" reporter Jeff Deal asked.

"Hey listen, it's not a crime," Rodriguez-Cruz's father said.

But it is a crime to Warden, who is responsible for cleaning up the vandalism at his business.

"They don't realize it costs homeowners, business owners like myself. I have to get it re-painted," Warden said.